Cutting mechanism



Sept. 7 1926.

N. L. MARCOTTE CUTTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24; 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuentpr 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N. L. MARCOZI'TE CUTTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24, 1925 gnaw H101 JKLMar coitQ Ag (""7 atozncql Sept. 7 1926.

Sept. 1, 1926. 1,598,737

N, L. MARCOTTE CUTTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24, 1925 3 Sheets -Sheet 5 gvwentoz AZLNarwZZe,

and 4, 7, ww

1,598,737 earner FFICE.

NARCIFJEE L. MARCG'ETE, OF BOUBBONNAIS, ILLINOIS.

CUTTING- MECHANISM.

Application filed September 24, 1925.

This invention relates, generically, to cutting mechanisms of that type embodying fixed blades and blades reciprocable with relation thereto so as to cut the material which enters between the fixed blades, and examples of which mechanisms are hair clippers, harvesters, iowers, and shearing clippers for use in shearing the wool of sheep. In all such mechanisms, previously employed, so far as I am aware, there is present the disadvantage that all of the ma: terial to be cut or clipped does not properly enter between the fixed blades of the mechanism, whether the material be hair, wool, grain, or the like, so that the cutting or clipping operation is not performed in thorough or proper manner.

More specifically, the present invention, as illustrated and described herein, pertains to motor actuated hair clippers. in cutting hair with ordinary clippers, as at present constructed, as the blades are slightly moved away from the scalp and are advanced through loose hair, a greater or less quantity of the hair will fail to enter between the fixed blades of the clippers, due to the rapid motion of the movable blades and the lack of resistance offered by the hair, and as a consequence, it is necessary for a barber to subsequently employ a comb and shears to taper off the hair or, in other words, clip the hairs which have not been properly acted upon by the blades of the clippers. Therefore. the primary object of the present invention is LO provide, in clipping or cutting mechanism of this general type or types, means for automatically presenting the hair or the like to be clipped, to the blades of the mechanism in such manner as to insure of even severance of all off the hairs, so that the complete hair cutting operation may be performed by the use of the clippers, and it is unnecessary for a barber to subsequently perform the tedious operation of employing shears to sever such hairs as have not been cut by the clippers.

ano her object of the invention is to provide, in cut ing or clipping mechanisms of the several tyies referred to, means for automatically drawing the hairs toward the blades so that regardless of the general disposition or condition oi? the hair, all of the hairs will eventually be presented to the blades in such a manner as to insure of even severance thereof.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Serial No. 58,450.

vide means for the purpose stated of a char acter adapting it to be readily embodied in the construction of the ordinary types of motor actuated clippers now on the market with extremely little change. in eliecting such embodiment.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention as adapted to motor actuated hair clippers of the ordinary type.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism.

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 4% is a sectional View taken subst; itially on the line 4.4- of Figure 3, lookin the direction indicated by the arrows. Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig ure 4-, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view through the housing which accommodates the mechanism embodying the invention.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the coacting members of the device through the medium of which the hair is drawn toward and properly positioned with respect to the fixed blades of the clippers.

Figure 8 is a plan View of the members shown in Figure 7, the members, in each instance, being disassembled from the remainder of the structure.

Figure 9 is a t'ragmentar plan view of the fixed blade member of the clippers proper.

in the drawings, and particularly in Figures 1, E2 and 3 thereoi, there illustrated a motor actuated. hair clipper of the ordinary type indicated in general by the numeral 1 and comprising the usual casing 52 which is of fiat, substantially rectangular shape and houses the mechanism for actuating the movable blades of the clipper. The clipper mechanism includes the usual fixed cutter section, indicated by the numeral 3, which is disposed against the under side of the usual forward extension l of the casing 2 and secured in place by screws 5, the fixed cutter section being provided in its upper surface with the usual transverse grooves 6 in which the usual transverse ribs 7 of the reciprocable cutter section of the clippers, indicated by the numeral 8, are slidably engaged, the usual tensioning device 9 being .mountcd upon the forward portion of the casing to coact with the reciprocable cutter section 8 to tension thesame and insure of proper coaction of the fixed blades 10 of the fixed cutter section 3 and the blades 11 of the reciprocable cutter section 8. The usual means for guiding the reciprocable section in its movement and limiting its movement, is indicated by the numeral 12, and the usual oscillating lever 13 is provided for transmitting motionv from the mechanism contained within the casing 2, to the reciprocable cutter section 8. This construction is all old and well known and the specific details thereof do not require more detailed illustration and description.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises a pair of feeding members supported for reciprocation in opposition to each other in a front to rear direction and including feeding fingers which are slidable longitudinally with relation to the blades of the fixed cutter section 8, and which members are actuated through transverse reciprocation of the reciprocable cutting member 8 and these devices are preferably mounted, together with the operating means therefor, in a housing which is indicated in general by the numeral 14. The said housing may be of pressed or stamped sheet metal and is integral throughout and the rear marginal portion thereof is fiat and constitutes an attaching portion which is indicated by the numeral 15, this portion being formed with openings 16 for the passage of the screws heretofore referred to, the walls of the openings being beveled as at 17, to accommodate the heads of the screws and permit the said heads to lie flush with the outer or under surface of the said attaching portion, the said attaching portion and the lateral marginal portions of the housing, which latter portions are indicated by the numeral 18, being disposed fiat against the under side of the fixed cutter member 3 of the clippers, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings, It will be observed by reference to there figures that the body portion of the housing is offset in a downward direction, by stamping or otherwise, so as to provide a relatively shallow recess indicated by the numeral 19.. in which the feeding members and the actuating means therefor are housed in a manner to be presently explained. The inner sides of the marginal portions 18 constitute the side walls of the recess 19, and constitute guiding surfaces for the said feeding members, as illustrated in Figures tand 5, the feeding members being indicated in general, one by the numeral 20' and the other by the numeral 21.

The recess 19 is closed at its rear side bythe attachim aortion 15 of the housin and 18, near their forward ends, are recessed, as indicated by the numeral'22, so as to accommodate offsets 23 formed at the forward corners of the fixed cutter member 3 of the clippers, as most clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The under side of the housing or, in other words, the eX- posed surface thereof, is entirely smooth, and the housing is formed at its forward end and between the recessed forward end portions 22 of the sides 18 of the housing, with a series of-teeth .24 which correspond in numberand in dimensions to the teeth 25 of the fixed cutter member 3, the teeth 2 71 extending immediately beneath the teeth 25 of the said fixed cutter member and'being slightly longer than the teeth 25 so that, at their forward ends, they will project slightlybeyond the forward ends of the said teeth 25.

It will be observed that the recess formed by offsetting or stamping the plate comprising the housing M, is closed atits upper side by the under side of the fixed cutter member 8 of the clippers, and it will further be observed that the teeth 2% are offset between their inner and outer ends, as in.- dicated by the numeral 26, so that the ofifset forward portions of the teeth 21 are spaced from the teeth 25 of the fixed cutter section a distance less than the distance between the blades 25 and the portions of the teeth inwardly of the offsets 26, and the purpose of this arrangement will presently be made clear. The feeding members 20 and 21 are nearly'of counterpart form and each comprises a plate 27 having straight latera edges 28, the member 21 being disposed upon the upper side of the bottom of the recess 19 and the member 20 being dis-' posed in overlapping position upon the upper side of the member 21, the lateral edges 28 of the two plates slidably contacting the inner sides of the marginal portions 18 of the housing let, so that the plates 27 may have forward and bacl ward reciprocatory motion within the recess of the housing and with relation to each other. Fingers 29 extend forwardly from the plate 27 of the feeding member 20, and similar lingers 3O entend forwardly from the plate 27 of the footing member 21. The lingers 29 are arranged to slide upon the upper sides of alternate ones of the teeth 2% of the hous ing member and the fingers 30 are disposed to slide upon the upper surfaces of the other ones of the said teeth 24. Inasmuch as the plates of the two feeding members are disposed in overlapping relation, it is necessary to provide offsets 31 in the fingers 30 so that the forward portions of these fingers will occupy the same plane as that occupied by the fingers 29, the upper sides of all of the teeth 24 being in a common the upper sides of the marginal portions plane. At this point it will be evident, and

particularly by reference to Figure 3, that by providing the offset 26 in each of the teeth 24:, the free backward and forward movement of the fingers 30 is not interfered with. It will be observed by reference to Figure 4:, that the fingers 29 and 30 are of a width no greater than the width of the teeth 24: and, likewise, the teeth 24 are no wider than the blades of the fixed cutter member, so that the fingers 29 and and the teeth 24 in no way obstruct the spaces between relatively adjacent ones of the said blades 25. It will also be observed that the fingers 29 and 30 operate directly beneath the blades 25.

lilach finger 29 and 30, at its outer end is formed with oppositely, laterally and rearwardly directed hairathering hooks 32, the forward edges of which as well as the forward ends of the respective fingers, 29 and 30, are rounded or curved transversely, as indicated by the numeral 33, so that in the forward movement of the fingers of either of the feeding members, the forward ends of the fingers, and the gathering hooks, will readily pass between the hairs to be gathered, said hooks, in the rearward movement of either feeding member, gathering a number of hairs and drawing them rearwardly to the spaces or crotches between the teeth 24 in the most advantageous position to adapt them to be severed by the cutting blades of the clippers. lit will now be evident that when the feeding members 20 and 21 are rec-iprocated in opposition to each other, by means to be presently described, the lingers 29 and 30 will be. altern tely thrust outwardly and drawn inwardly so that, as the clippers are moved through the hair, the hairs will be engaged by the gathering hooks and drawn inwardly to a position where they may be most advantageously acted upon by the cutting blades of the clippers, and it is obvious that the hairs will be so positioned regardless of the positions which they might occupy prior to engagement by the gathering hooks.

The means provided for imparting reciprocatery motion to the feeding members comprises a pair of angle levers 34 mounted at the juncture of their arms, for rocking movement upon pivot studs 35 threaded into penings formed in the bottom wall of the recess 19 of the housing member A. The said angle levers 34 are oppositely posiblUiiQtl that their arms, which are indicated by the numeral 37, extend toward each other, and are formed at their outer ends with short slots 38 accommodating pivot studs 39 upon stems l-() which project ardly from the plates 27 of the reiieeding members 20 and 21. The other arms of the angle levers, indicated by the nuu'ieral 41, are likewise formed at their outer ones with slots 42 which accommodate the ends of studs 43 which are threaded into openings in the reciprocable cutter member 8, the fixed cutter member 3 being formed with slots 4A to permit of transverse shifting movement of the studs ii in the c0rrespending movement of the reciprocable eutter member 8. it will now be evident that as the member 8 is rapidly transversely reciprocated, rapid rocking motion will be in'iparted to the angle levers through the medium of the stu l3, and the feeding members 0 and 21 will be rapidly reciprocatcd in 'irontto rear direction to feed the hair to the blades of the clippers. It will likewise be evident that inasmuch as the angle levers El i are reversely arranged with respect to each other, the feeding members 20 and 21 will be oppositely reciprocatod, so that when the fingers of one member are moving inwardly to gather the hairs and present them to the cutting blades of the clippers, the lingers of the other member are moving outwa 'dly to collect other hairs to be cut. It will be evident that inasmuch as the teeth extend forwardly beyond the forward ends of the blades of the clippers, and the gathering fingers 29 move over the upper sides of the said teeth Set, the fingers and their gathering hooks cannot come in contact with the scalp to injure the same.

As heretofore pointed out, the principles of the invention may find embodiment in cuttin mechanisms of various kinds. For example, the invention may be embodied in mechanism for shearing sheep or other animals and would be of special. benefit in this connection in view of the fact that the wool of such animals is usually so thick and tangled that considerable force is often required to advance the shearing mechanism through the wool, with likelihood of injury to the skin, whereas, by the use of the present invention, the wool, whether tangled or otherwise in such a condition that it would be dilficult to cut it by the ordinary methods, may be readily severed when directly presented or fed to the cutting blades of the shearing mechanism. In cutting grain, it frequently happens that certain areas of a field are laid low by storms and, with the ordinary harvester, it is practically impossible for the fallen grain to be cut and delivered to the apron or table of the machine, with the result that most of the grain passes under the table anti is lost, whereas, if the principles of the invention are embodied in a harvester, the grain will be fed directly to the knives of the sickle bar and this ditiiculty will be overcome. Likewise, in mowing machines, the sickle knives frequently become clogged or entangled, whereas if the devices of the invention are cur bodied in the machine, this cannot occur. It will, therefore, be seen that the invention is not restricted to embodiment in motoractuated hair clippers, but may be adapted to various cutting mechanisms of the type embodying coacting reciprocating blades.

l Vhile, in the drawings, the feeding devices embodying the invention are illustrated as arr nged upon the under side of the clippers, it will be understood that they might be positioned above the clippers by a mechanical rearrangement of the parts of the mechanism.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. 'The combination with cutting mecha nism embodying a fixed cutting member and a cutting member movable with relation thereto, the cutting members having coacting blades, of means for gathering and feeding, between the blades of the first mentioned member, the material to be cut, and operative connection between the movable cutting member and the said means for directly actuating the latter..

2. The combination with cutting n1echanism embodying cutting members one reciprocable with relation to the other, the members having series of spaced coacting blades, of means reciprocable longitudinally with relation to the blades for gathering and feeding, to the blades, the material to be cut.

3. The combination with cuttinggmechanism embodying cutting members one movable with relation to the other, the members having series of spaced coacting blades, of

means movable longitudinally with relation to the blades for gathering and feedingto the blades, the material to be cut,and means operable through movement of the first mentioned cutting member to impart motion to the said gathering and feeding means. u

4. The combination with cutting mecha nism embodying cutting members one reciprocable with relation to the other. the members having series of spaced coacting blades, of a feeding member reciprocable in a direction at a right angle to the direction of reciprocation of the first mentioned. cutting member and having fingers movable therewith longitudinally of the blades of the said first mentioned cutting member, the said fingers having material gathering hooks. v

5. The combination with cutting me hanism embodying cut-ting members one reciprocable with relation to the other, the' members having series of spaced coacting blades, of a feeding member rec procable in a direction at a right angle to the direction erally in opposite directions from each of' the saidfingers beyond the sides of the respective blades.

6. The combination with cutting mechanism embodying cutting members one reciprocable with relation to the other, the members having series of spaced coacting blades, of a feeding member reciprocable in a direction at a right angle to the direction of reciprocation of the first mentioned cutting member, means for actuating the feeding member operable through reciprocation of the first mentioned cutting member, fingers extending from the said feeding member longitudinally of the blades of said first mentioned cutting memberand reciprocable. longitudinally thereof, the said fingers having portions projecting beyond the sides of the respective blades to gather and feed the material to be cut,

7. The combination with cutting mechanism embodying cutting members one reciprocable with relation to the other, the members having series of spaced coacting blades, of feeding members reciprocable in a direction ata right angle to the direction of reciprocation of the first mentioned cutting member, means for reciprocating said feeding members in opposition to each other, fingers extending from the said fee-ding members and movable longitudinally with relation to the blades of the said fixed cutting member, and material gathering hooks projecting from opposite sides of said fingers.

8. The combination with cutting mechanism embodying cutting members one reciprocable with relation to the other, the members having series of spaced coacting blades, of feeding members reciprocable in a direction at a right angle to the direction of reciprocation ofthe first mentioned cutting mcmber, means for reciprocating said feeding members in opposition to each other actuated through reciprocation of the first mentioned cutting member, fingers extending from the said feeding members and movable longitudinally with relation to the blades of the said fixed cutting member, and material gathering hooks projecting from opposite sides of said fingers.

9. The combination with cutting mechanism embodying fixed and reciprocable cutting members, the members having series of spaced coacting blades, of a housing supported upon the fixed cutting member and having teethextending in spaced relation to the blades of the said member, a feeding member mounted for reciprocation in the housing transverse to the direction of reciprocation of the reciprocable cutting member and operated through reciprocation of the latter, and material gathering fingers carried by the feeding member and operating between the said teeth and the said blades of the fixed cutting member for gathering and feeding, between the blades, the material to be cut.

10. The combination wit 1 cutting mechanism embodying fixed and reciprocable cutting members, the members having series ofspaced coacting blades, of a housing sup ported upon the fixed cutting member and having teeth extending in spaced relation to the blades of toe said member, a feeding member mounted for reciprocation in the housing transverse to the direction of reciprocation of the reciprocable cutting memher, an angle lever mounted within the housing for rocking movement and having one of its arms operatively connected with the reciprocable cutting member and its other arm operative'ly connected with the feeding member whereby to effect reciprocation of the feeding member upon reciprocation of the reciproeable cutting member, and material gathering fingers carried by the feeding member and operating between the said teeth and the blades of the fixed cut ting member for gathering and feeding, between the blades, the material to be cut.

11. T he combination with cutting mecha nism embodying fixed and reciprocable cut ting members, the members having series of spaced coacting blades, of a housing sup ported upon the lined cutting member and having teeth extending in spaced relation to the blades of the said member, feeding mem bers comprising plates mounted for independent reciprocation in the housing transverse to the direction of reciprocation of the reciprocable cutting member, operative connection between the said plates and the reciprocable cutting member for effecting reciprocation of the said plates in opposition to each other, and material gathering fingers carried by the feeding member for gathering and feeding, between the blades, the material to be cut, the said lingers operating between the said teeth and the blades of the fixed cutting member.

12. The combination with cutting mechanism embodying fixed and reciprocable cutting members, the members having series of spaced coacting blades, of a housing supported upon the fixed cutting member and having teeth extending in spaced relation to the blades of the said member, feeding members comprising plates mounted for independent. reciprocation in the housing transverse to the direction of reciprocation of the reciprocable cutting member, operative connection between the said plates and the reciprocabie cutting member for effecting reciprocation of the said plates in oppo sition to each other, and material gathering lingers carried by the feeding member for gathering and feeding, between the blades, the material to be out, the said fingers operating between the said teeth and the blades of the fixed cutting member and each finger being provided at its outer end with a laterally projecting material gathering hook.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa ture.

NARCISSE L. MARCOTTE. [L. s] 

